Chess.com - Play. Learn. Share.Online chess community where you can play chess, learn strategies and tactics, read chess news, see book reviews, find rules & tips, get free downloads, and more!http://www.chess.com/
2007 Chess.comOTB chess in TaipeiThis is mostly relevant to Taipei / Taiwan based chess friends.
Since 2012 we have been meeting on Wednesday evenings at Starbucks on ShiDa Road. A few weeks ago, the admin of the facebook group changed the location on FB to Vinyl Decision, a rec...http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/otb-chess-in-taipeiTue, 24 Feb 2015 23:19:47 -0800http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/otb-chess-in-taipei2014 Carlsen - Anand world champs outcome according to mathMy prediction is: Carlsen wins in 11 rounds with a 6.5 - 4.5 score.
Â
Â
Actually it is not just a prediction, it is the most likely outcome according to math.
Â
So how come did I come to that conclusion?
Carlsen's rating is 2863, Anand is...http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/carlsen---anand-outcome-according-to-the-mathFri, 07 Nov 2014 23:52:33 -0800http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/carlsen---anand-outcome-according-to-the-mathHow the new FIDE rating system is flawedThis blogpost is about some of the unintended consequences of the new FIDE rating rules, effective from July 2014.
The main change is that players are awarded an rating after only five rated opponents. This is too few, since it makes your initial...http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/fide-performance-ratings-can-be-quite-offMon, 06 Oct 2014 08:24:59 -0700http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/fide-performance-ratings-can-be-quite-offTaiwan Nationals 2014: part 7 -- Final day 2Sunday was day 2 (of 4) of the finals. The top 12 players, as selected by a 11 round swiss, play a round-robin for the title.
After six rounds (each day is 3 rounds of 90+30 games), I have three points. Which likely puts me a little ahead of the ...http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-nationals-2014-part-7----final-day-2Mon, 14 Apr 2014 17:58:22 -0700http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-nationals-2014-part-7----final-day-2Taiwan Nationals 2014: part 6 -- Final day 1Â The final first day was today. The format is three 90+30 games in a day, which is almost inhuman. The allocated time per game is 4h, and if your game is still going on when the next round starts -- you are granted a 15 minute break. Not nearly e...http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-nationals-2014-part-6----final-day-1Sat, 12 Apr 2014 08:44:31 -0700http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-nationals-2014-part-6----final-day-1Taiwan Nationals 2014: part 5 -- Semifinal over (and some advice needed!)The semifinal tournament concluded today. Got 6th place of ~60 players with 7 points of 11.Â
While it is enough to qualify me to the final group of 12, there are aspects of my play that needs improvement. And damn quickly. The finals are in a we...http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-nationals-2014-part-5----semifinal-help-neededSun, 06 Apr 2014 09:30:03 -0700http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-nationals-2014-part-5----semifinal-help-neededTaiwan Nationals 2014: part 4 -- Tainan qualifierIf anyone has the Tainan results, please share! Curious :-)
Isn't it strange that there are no official results out from either the Taichung or Tainan qualifiers?
Considering all the messy rules in place for who qualifies (depending on nationali...http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-nationals-2014-part-4----tainan-qualifierSun, 16 Mar 2014 09:39:49 -0700http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-nationals-2014-part-4----tainan-qualifierTaiwan Nationals 2014: part 3 -- Taichung qualifierLast weekend, I dropped by the Taichung qualifier tournament, mostly to observe and to meet some friends.
In contrast to some of the other qualifiers in the past, the organizers had used at least some common sense. The zero start rule was not in ...http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-nationals-2014-part-3----taichung-qualifierSun, 16 Mar 2014 00:56:24 -0700http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-nationals-2014-part-3----taichung-qualifierFunny formulations in FIDE rulesInteresting how much leeway FIDEs rules would leave for corrupt tournament organizers. Imagine a case where there are special players (say children of influential people) that should (or should not) obtain the top spots.
Â
From article 13: "The...http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/arbiters-according-to-fideTue, 11 Mar 2014 08:06:47 -0700http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/arbiters-according-to-fideTaiwan Nationals 2014: part 2 -- unorganizationYesterday I played in the first qualifier for Taiwan Nationals. And every time, one cannot stop being astonished by ... the lack of common sense and organization skills displayed.
Â
The number of players were 101. The zero tolerance rule is str...http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-nationals-2014----part-2-unorganizationTue, 25 Feb 2014 01:18:24 -0800http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-nationals-2014----part-2-unorganizationTaiwan Nationals 2014: part 1 -- foreigner in a foreign landYesterday the cycle of Taiwan Nationals / National team selection tournaments started.
It is a combined event, where the team to represent Chinese Taipei are selected for the Chess Olympiad in Norway 2014. One of the competitions also acts a Nati...http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-nationals-2014-part-1----foreigner-in-a-foreign-landMon, 24 Feb 2014 07:31:17 -0800http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-nationals-2014-part-1----foreigner-in-a-foreign-landTaiwan chess event calendarI have been looking for something like this: a listing upcoming chess events in a similar way as it was done back in Europe.
While there are some listings, many are done by someone with an agenda -- carefully omitting 'competitors' events etc. Â ...http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-chess-event-calendarThu, 06 Jun 2013 10:13:40 -0700http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-chess-event-calendarTaiwan Nationals 2013: part 12 -- resultsThe 2013 Taiwan Nationals were concluded yesterday, and the results can be seen http://tapani.homeftp.org/nationals2013_berger2.pdf
So what kind of prize ceremony and/or award awaits the new Taiwan Champion?Â
None.Â
Not even a cheap metal pla...http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-nationals-2013-part-12----resultsMon, 22 Apr 2013 06:33:14 -0700http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-nationals-2013-part-12----resultsTaiwan Nationals 2013 -- part 11: standings after round 6 (final group)The piece of sheet the organizers provide is somewhat undecipherable, emphasizing things like on which table each game should be played on, rather than ease of overviewability.
So I tried to gather all the information in a more standard-like Berg...http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-nationals-2013----part-11-standings-after-round-6Mon, 15 Apr 2013 05:11:28 -0700http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-nationals-2013----part-11-standings-after-round-6Taiwan Nationals 2013 -- part 10: being a foreignerThey have special rules for foreigners, regarding how many can advance to what stage. In the finals they also (for some reason) have special treatments on our games (that we should play each other the last three rounds). It is round-robin so the o...http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-nationals-2013----part-10-being-a-foreignerSun, 14 Apr 2013 20:41:08 -0700http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-nationals-2013----part-10-being-a-foreignerTaiwan Nationals 2013 -- part 9: finals day 1The first six rounds of the finals were played this weekend.
The format is a 12 player round-robin, so roughly half of the games remain.
I did okayish, having 2 pts of 3 after day one. My first round was against Ausin, which I won after he blund...http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-nationals-2013----part-9-finals-day-1Sun, 14 Apr 2013 20:37:28 -0700http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-nationals-2013----part-9-finals-day-1Taiwan Nationals 2013: part 8 -- anyone can be a championInstead of just pointing out the ... unprincipled ... approach of the chess organization here, there are some good things here that I have not seen elsewhere.
Anyone can become the champion. This means that anyone can play, and by being good can ...http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-nationals-2013-part-8----the-upsideWed, 03 Apr 2013 21:40:01 -0700http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-nationals-2013-part-8----the-upsideTaiwan Nationals 2013: part 7 -- on electronic devicesThere seems to be no enforcement regarding electronic devices in the game area. Every year I see people running a chess engine only a few meters from the games (in the game room). On laptops, tablets, and cell phones. This year I stood behind some...http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-nationals-part-7----electronic-devicesTue, 02 Apr 2013 14:46:48 -0700http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-nationals-part-7----electronic-devicesTaiwan Nationals 2013: part 6 -- spectate or not to spectateBack in Europe spectators were welcome to chess events, as long as they did not disturb anyone.Â
Here the organizers try to chase people out, but not everyone. They have their favourites (top players are not chased out), and other people (non-pl...http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-nationals-2013-part-6----spectate-or-not-to-spectateTue, 02 Apr 2013 13:42:06 -0700http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-nationals-2013-part-6----spectate-or-not-to-spectateTaiwan Nationals 2013: part 5 -- tiebreakingThe semifinals are now over, and I got myself a 2nd place with 8 points of 11 (1st place had 8.5). The guy in the lead drew quite early in the last round, so I fought hard to win the last game (since I was just .5 behind). Eventually we foundourse...http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-nationals-2013-part-5----tiebreakingTue, 02 Apr 2013 04:23:31 -0700http://www.chess.com/blog/Tapani/taiwan-nationals-2013-part-5----tiebreaking